Trinity College tests link between genes and personality

Trinity College in Dublin is conducting a large experiment to
investigate the link between genetic variability on the dopamine
receptor gene and personality type.

Research has suggested that it is possible that differences in
personality type are associated with whether you have a long or
short form dopamine receptor gene. Those with the long form (7R
plymorphism in the D4 gene) are likely to be risk takers and novelty seekers.

Now an experiment is part of the Human + exhibition at the Science Gallery in Trinity College
Dublin and aims to collect more data in a live-lab experiment. A
team headed up by geneticists Dr Ross McManus and Dr Aoife
McLysaght will collect cheek cells from visitors through a
mouth-swilling procedure and, coupled with a questionnaire, the
samples will reveal the distribution of risk taking differences
across a large cross-section of visitors to the Gallery.

McManus told Wired.co.uk: "People are interested in getting
their genes tested and this is a relatively simple way of getting
people engaged with the gallery exhibits."

Visitors to the Science Gallery will be greeted by PHD students
in white coats wheeling around mobile trolleys to take samples.
Participants will take a pre-measured light saline solution and
vigorously rinse it around their mouth. This should dislodge cheek
cells, which can then have their DNA extracted through the addition of a detergent and
ethanol.

Having extracted the DNA, they will use gene-detection
technology PCR (polymerase chain reactions) on it in order to
assess the D4 dopamine receptor gene, looking for how long it is.
There are a number of different variants of the gene, but some of
the more typical common ones are those with 2, 4 and 7 repeats of a
particular DNA sequence on exon 3 (one of the components of a
gene). Those with 7 repeats are long, meanwhile those with 2 are
short.

The aim is to then correlate this information with the responses
to the questionnaire looking at risk-taking behaviour to see
whether the link between the two is apparent. The team hopes to
attract between 1,000 and 2,000 participants. The results will be
anonymised for publication, but visitors will be able to access
their personal results thanks to an ID number. The team plans to
turn the analysis into a report which, depending on the results,
they hope to publish.

McManus is keen to stress that the results are not deterministic.
He says: "We don't want people with the long variant to think they
need to go out and take sky diving lessons. This is just one factor
in a complex mix of things that determine our personalities."

If you want to participate in the study, you have until 24 June
of this year to go and give your sample. You'll need to wait a
while to receive your particular results.